Sound diaphragm



N 1929- M. BERNARD 1,735,417

' SOUND DIAPHRAGM Filed April 19, 1923 awuemtoz UARCEL BERNARD 533M? flktomeggqay 1W Patented Nov. 12, 1929 UNITED STATES MAROEL BERNARD,

OF IPARIS, FRANCE SOUND DIAPHRAGM Application med April 19, 1923, Serial No. 633,077, and in France m 20, 1922.

The present invention relates to large diaphragms such as cones or discs of papers or other materials, etc., used for producing sound and adaptable to various talking machines,

telephone loud speakers, etc.

The invention relates more. particularly to the method of attaching the sound diaphragm to its support which is the most important thing in apparatus of this character and on which the efliciency of the system depends.

It is an object of this invention to give the vibrating diaphragm more freedom thereby to increase the clarity, and reduce the distor tion of sound produced by a diaphragm according to my invention as compared to the rigid or semi-rigid attachments in which the bent or flat edges of the diaphragm were directly applied to the support. It is another object of this invention to eliminate the nepoint on the diaphragm with respect to the support which is essential in rigid and semirigid assemblies. This makes possible the quick and cheap assembly of apparatus of this character. It is still another object of'this invention to produce apparatus of the character which shall be more sturdy and less subject to deformation under shock;

In accordance with the present invention, thediaphragm is attached to its support by means of elastic or rubber-like connections, e. g. rubber connections, distributed along the periphery of the diaphragm. Eachoif these connections is attached on one hand to the diaphragm and on the other hand to the support by means of any suitable attachment.

These connections or a group of them may consist of a suitable variable lacing of a continuous elastic or rubber-like thread passing from holding means provided on the diaphragm to holding means provided on the support.

The invention will be more clearly under- 45 stood with the aid of the enclosed drawings cessity for exactly centering the attachment exemplifying one embodiment of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a sound producing diaphragm in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional side View of the same,

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the structure shown in the upper part of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 show difierent methods of attaching the diaphragm to the support.

In Fig. 1, 1 is the vibrating diaphragm which is to be attached by elastic or rubberlike means to the support 2 surrounding the diaphragm. In accordance with the present invention this is accomplished by means of a certain number of elastic or rubber-like connections 3 which connect the attachment points a distributed around the periphery of the diaphram 1 to corresponding attachment points 5 on the support 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional side View of the arrangement. It is as sumed that the vibrating diaphragm is thin and cone shaped.

In the present case the connections 3 consist of rubber loops. The attachment points 4 on the diaphragm are provided by means of perforations or holes in the diaphragm (the holes being reinforced by means of eyelets which should be preferably light). The attachment points. on the support are lugs 5. The loops are passed through the perforations and the two free ends of these loops are looped over the lugs either in the manner shown in the upper part'of Fig. 2 or in the manner shown at the bottom of this figure. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper part of Fig. 2. 30

Fig. at shows a lacing of a continuous elastic thread which alternately passes from attachment points on the diaphragm to attachment points on the support. These points may be perforations, lugs, etc. The lead of 35 the lacing may be varied, and the lacing may comprise a plurality of slips, etc., not laced or otherwise.

Fig. 5 shows a method of attaching by means of elastic loops hooked on lugs or hooks provided on both Furthermore, thin elastic bands of rubber or the like may be glued or otherwise attached to the diaphragm and the support. These bands must be distributed along the periph cry of the diaphragm.

Obviously, the embodiment of theattaching means ma be subjected'to wide varia tions without eparting from the spirit of the invention. The material, such as paper, thin metal etc., of which the vibrating diaphragm is made, as well as the form of this diaphragm disc or any other fiat surface, or cone or curved or irregular surface may be arbitrarily selected. Finallythe tension of the connections may be regulated by lengtheningor shortening the continuous connection in the case of the last structure or by lengthening or shortening the individual connections in the other cases. i As far as the attachment points on the diaphragm and the support are concerned, their relative arrangement should be such that the elastic connections be approximately held by them either ina plane atright angles to the axis of the diaphragm or in conical surfaces having an apex of any desired angle either positive or negative, or in a cylindrical surface. i

The manner in which the diaphragm is operated is immaterial, it may be accomplished by mechanical or electromagnetic means, whereby the invention inay be applied to phonographs, telephone loud speakers and any other sound, reproducing, transmitter, ampli ing or similar apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A vibratory system for a loud s eaker comprising a vibratory diaphragm o suflicient size to make the use of sound amplifying devices unnecessary, a supportfor said diaphragm disposed in spaced relation with respect to said diaphragm, and a plurality of flexible means connecting said diaphragm to said support.

- 2. A vibratory system for a loud speaker comprising a cone of sufficient size to make 50 the use of sound amplifying devices unnecessary, a support for said cone in spaced relation and a plurality of flexible elements connectin the cone to the support having sufficient exibility to permit the cone to move as a unit.

3. A vibratory system for an acoustic device comprising a vibratory element, a support therefor and a pluralit of flexible elements having substantial y great elasticity for securing a vibratory element to the support.

4. A vibratory system for an acoustic device comprising a vibratory element, a support therefor and a plurality of loops of flexible 65 material having substantially great elasticity for securi I ng'the vibratory element to the support. I

:5. A vibratory system for an acoustic de- 1 vice compris ng a vibratory element, a rigid support therefor spaced therefrom and a plurality of substantially radially disposed rubbe'r' elements for securing the vibratory element to the support.

A vibratory system for an acoustic device comprising a'vibratory element, a support therefor and a single lacing element possessing substantially great elasticity for securing the vibratory. element to the support by means of a pluralit of loops engaging the vibratory element an the support.

7. An acoustic device comprising a diaphragm and means for sus' ending said diaphragm, said means inclu ing a rigid support disposed in spaced relation with res t to the periphery of the diaphragm, and exible connections in spaced relationinterposed between said diaphragm eriphery and support for yieldably suspending the diaphragm from said support.

8. An acoustic device comprising a large direct acting cone diaphragm, a supportin member therefor spaced therefrom, and yiel able connections between the dia hragm and the supporting member distributed around the periphery of the diaphragm in s aced rela- '6 tion for flexibly supporting said ia hragm, whereby said 'aphragm tends to vi rate as a whole. y

9. An acoustic device comprising'a large direct acting cone diaphragm, a supporting member therefor spaced-therefrom and a lurality of substantially radially disposed e astic non-metallic members interposed between the diaphragm and the supporting member and distributed around the periphery of the daphragm for freel supporting said diaphragm whereby said diaphragm tends to vibrate asa whole. 1

10. A vibratory system for an acoustic device comprising a vibratory element, a support therefor, and a plurality of spaced flexible elements having substantially great elasticity for securing the vibratoryelement to the support.

11. ,A vibratory system for an acoustic device comprising a vibratory element, a support therefor, and a plurality of spaced loops of flexible material having substantially great elasticity for securing the vibratory element to the support.

12. A vibratory system for a loud-speaker comprising a cone of suificient size to make the use of sound amplifying devices unnecessary; a support for said cone in s aced relation, and a plurality of spaced, exible ele-- ments connecting the cone to the su port'having suflicient flexibility to permit the cone to move as a unit.

13. vibratory system for a loud-s eaker comprising a vibratory diaphragm o suflicient size to make the use of sound amplifying devices unnecessary, a support for said diaphragm and a plurality of spaced flexible means connecting said diaphragm to said support, said means having great elasticity.

14. An acoustic device comprising a diaphragm and means for suspending said diaphragm, said means including a rigid support disposed in spaced relation with respect to the periphery of the diaphragm, and flexible connections interposed between said diaphragm periphery and support fordyieldably suspendingt e diaphragm rom sai su ort.

MARCEL BERNA 

